Improvement in signals for railroad trains



DAVID L SCHON-B ERG' Signals for 'Raoad Trains, vNo. 121,901. Pafemed 1166.12, 1871.

(120.) v l o ww e105 ov UNITED STATES DAVID LOUIS SCHNBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNALS FOR RAILROAD TRAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,901, dated December 12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I', DAvTD LoUrs SGHNBERG, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Train-Signal 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full7 clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l represents a sectional side view of my signal apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the saine.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a signal supported by lazy-tongs. telescopic tubes or rods, or any other device which allows of raising or lowering the signal in a very short space of time, in combination with a platform which can be carried on a car or locomotive, and which is provided with a clamping mechanism in such a manner that when an accident happens to the train said platform can be readily attached to the track and the signal raised and rendered visible at a great distance to approaching trains, and thereby the danger of collision is avoided.

In the drawing, A designates a platform which is provided on its bottom surface with lugs a a and with one or more clamping-screws, b, by means of which said platform can be readily secured to the rails of a railroad track, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. On the upper surface of this platform is secured a vertical shaft, c, which carries a pinion, d, and a worm-wheel, e. Said pinion gears in toothed racks ff' situated on opposite sides thereof, and extending from slides g g tted in suitable guide-grooves in the platform A, as shown. From the slides g g rise lugs h h, which form the bearings for the pivots t t' of the lower links of a series of lazy-tongs, B, to the upper links of which are secured the signal or signals O. The worm-wheel e gears in a Worm,

mounted on the end of a shaft, k, which has its bearing in suitable boxes secured to the platform A, and to which a revolving motion can be iinparted by a hand-cran k, l. By turning this crank in the proper direction the slides g g are caused to move toward each other and the lazy-tongs are elevated, thereby raising the signal or signals in a very short time to a considerable height. From the sides of the platform A extend arms m, to which. guy-ropes n are secured, the outer ends of which are connected to the lazy-tongs B at or near their top. These guy-ropes are of such a length that the same, when the lazy-tongs are extended, will be stretched to their full extent, and that they will steady the lazy-tongs in their extended position.

It must be remarked that, instead of lazy-tongs, other devices, such as telescopic tubes or rods, might be employed for the purpose of raising or lowering the signal or signals,1 and I do not wish to confine myself' in this respect to the precise mechanism shown in the drawing.

The signals consist either of colored plates, disks, or wings for the day-time, or of lanterns for the night.

The platform A, with its elevating mechanism and signals, is intended to be carried on a train of cars, either on the locomotive or on any ofthe cars, and if an accident happens it can be readily secured to the track at a suitable distance from the train, and, by displaying the signals, approaching trains are warned of the danger.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The platform A provided with lugs a a and clamping-screws b, as and for the purpose described, in combination with the Wornrwheel c, Worm j, shaft K, racks f f, pinion d, slides g y, lazy-tongs B, and signal C, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

D. L. SGHONBERG. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. (120) 

